Fantasy Baseball: Rich Harden and Top 15 Waiver-Wire Pickups for Week 15

As we cook up hot dogs, spend time with our families and celebrate our country's independence, it also marks the last week in the first half of the season that is fantasy baseball.

Owners are just starting to gauge their potential playoff competition and are seeking possible trades or free-agent pickups in hopes of rounding out their rosters.

Heading into Week 15, following an All-Star weekend featuring some of fantasy baseball's most prized possessions, owners are going to find themselves entrenched in one of the most important weeks of the year.

It's a natural occurrence to witness hitters and pitchers get hot during the second half of the season, so an owner's presence of mind to act on those tendencies could mean the difference between a championship season or another September watching Reggie Bush disappoint for your fantasy football team.

With that said, here are the top 15 waiver-wire options heading into Week 15.

15. Ben Revere, OF, Minnesota Twins

Ben Revere, not to be confused with Paul, has been fairly productive since his call-up in early May.

The 23-year-old has batted .265 with 10 stolen bases and only 14 KO through 151 at-bats.

While he isn't going to Jose Bautista opposing pitching, the young outfielder offers enough speed and run scoring to be a viable deep mixed-league option.

He tends to hit better on the road so if the Minnesota Twins have a long road trip coming up, like the week of July 25th, you might want to think about starting him.

14. Emilio Bonifacio, OF, Florida Marlins

Emilio Bonifacio has been a tear over the past week, hitting .360 with five stolen bases and six runs.

The fantasy speedster was once looked at as a viable mixed-league option, but he's more of an NL-only starter, offering speed and extra-base pop for his owners.

Bonifacio could see some play in mixed leagues going forward if he keeps up his hot hitting, but for now, he's a must-add in NL-formatted fantasy leagues.

13. Mark Ellis, 2B, Colorado Rockies

After being traded from the Oakland Athletics to the NL Colorado Rockies, second baseman Mark Ellis has rejuvenated his fantasy baseball career.

Ellis has hit a cool .533 over his last 15 at-bats, adding two home runs and seven RBI.

The 34-year-old was once a fantasy must-start at such a thin position, so a change of scenery could warrant mixed-league consideration.

Not to mention the veteran is hitting second in a lineup that features top options like Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and a streaking Todd Helton.

12. Cameron Maybin, OF, San Diego Padres

Cameron Maybin may have been overrated when he came into the league with the Detroit Tigers, but he's finally showing signs up that top-level talent.

Coming off a month of June in which he hit .288, Maybin looks poised to continue his hot-hitting ways.

Going forward, you can consider the 24-year-old a poor man's Curtis Granderson, offering speed, extra-base pop, a so-so average but without the home run power.

He's a viable deep mixed-league option.

11. Juan Nicasio, SP, Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies seem to have another young arm in their arsenal by the name of Juan Nicasio.

Nicasio, 24, is coming off the best start of his career, throwing eight scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals on his way to his third win of the season.

2011 is Nicasio's very first season in the MLB, so gauging his next few starts is going to be very important.

He's a strikeout pitcher, offers solid control (10 BB in 41.2 IP) and plays for an offensively potent team.

Owners in all mixed leagues should keep an eye out for Nicasio because another start like his last one could have waiver-wire hoarders scrambling for his services.

10. Alex Presley, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Does anybody actually know what Alex Presley is doing for the Pittsburgh Pirates?

With his three-hit performance Monday night, Presley is currently hitting .364 through his first eight games.

The 25-year-old rookie has taken over for the injured Jose Tabata, batting leadoff for the Pirates and looking like he might stay there.

Presley has knocked in six RBI, stolen two bases and has dominated opposing pitchers over his first 33 at-bats.

Following the All-Star break, if Pittsburgh decides to keep Presley in an everyday role, it might be worth it to add him in deeper mixed leagues.

9. Danny Valencia, 3B, Minnesota Twins

Great Danny Valencia!

The Minnesota Twins third baseman has finally found his groove at the dish, cranking three home runs, 12 RBI and batting .375 over his last 10 games.

That's good for a .462 July average.

Going forward, owners may want to consider adding him in mixed leagues.

Valencia's power is for real, he'll consistently get RBI opportunities batting behind Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer, and he looks like he's ready for a second-half breakout.

8. Eric Thames, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Ever since the Toronto Blue Jays gave a starting job to Eric Thames, the young outfielder has done nothing but perform.

Over his last 30 at-bats, Thames has hit three home runs with five RBI, one triple, one double and has batted .379 while doing so.

The talented Thames was a productive 20-plus home run hitter in the minors and could be on his way to a big second half.

Another hot-hitting week and he'll surely warrant mixed-league consideration.

7. Rubby De La Rosa, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Even after a seven-inning, three-run loss Monday night against the New York Mets, Rubby De La Rosa looks like he can be a diamond in the rough.

Better yet, a ruby in the rough.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rookie could be in line for a big second half.

Considering he was recently called up, he's more than likely going to be around for the rest of 2011, giving fantasy owners enough time to reap the benefits of his effective pitching.

De La Rosa has pitched back-to-back seven-inning games, even though he lost both of those contests.

Regardless, during that 14-inning span, he's recorded nine strikeouts, issued only three walks and has given up only nine hits.

That's good for a sub-1.00 WHIP.

If it's not too late, add the young arm to your fantasy bench and you could be starting him by the end of July.

6. Cory Luebke, SP, San Diego Padres

Cory Luebke has been an absolute beast.

He's pitched 11 scoreless innings over his last two starts, going 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and only surrendering five baserunners.

The 26-year-old is currently rocking a 2.52 ERA over 50 innings of work, making him an interesting pickup in any fantasy formatted league.

His next start is due to come against Barry Zito and the offensively challenged San Francisco Giants on Thursday, so he looks to be in line for another victory.

5. Antonio Bastardo, RP, Philadelphia Phillies

While the Philadelphia Phillies have been looking to get closers Ryan Madsen and Jose Contreras healthy, Antonio Bastardo has taken over the ninth-inning role.

He's recorded two saves over the past week, giving his team and owners some much-needed stability.

However, that isn't what should catch the eye of potential suitors.

His real gloating material is his 0.90 ERA and 0.80 WHIP.

Bastardo has been one of the most consistent relievers in all of baseball, going 3-0 with four saves and 34 K's in only 30 innings of work.

The 25-year-old should be in line for some save opportunities going forward in the second half and if the Phillies decide to give him the reins, he could become a top-10 fantasy option.

4. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

First baseman Freddie Freeman is finally starting to show signs of a top-level prospect.

There's a reason why the Atlanta Braves pegged him their Opening Day starter with only 24 career at-bats under his belt.

He's simply that good.

Freeman, 21, should be relatively unowned in most mixed leagues, unless your playing in a deep format or an NL-only situation.

Regardless, if he's unowned, I'd think about picking him up.

Freeman went deep twice Monday night, moving his 2011 total to 11. He has boosted his average up to a respectable .272 since batting .225 in April.

And considering he's been batting cleanup behind Chipper Jones and in front of Jason Heyward, the young first baseman is going to have plenty of lineup protection going forward in the season.

Look for Freeman to fight his way close to a .290 average and into fantasy lineups by the end of the year.

3. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners

If you've been waiting to see how Dustin Ackley pans out at the major league level before you added him, now is the time to end those concerns and get him active.

Ackley has been producing game in and game out, hitting .277 through 47 at-bats.

He's added two home runs, two triples and seven RBI.

While Ackley is going to struggle to provide consistent run production amidst a lineup like the Seattle Mariners, his positional value is too good to pass up.

Add him in all leagues, unless of course you already have a suitable option.

2. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Don't let the mustache fool you, Travis Snider is back.

I know this has become a yearly event in fantasy baseball, but 2011 could provide a different outcome.

With the Toronto Blue Jays going young, starting Eric Thames and Snider with Brett Lawrie on his way, the 23-year-old is in line for some serious playing time.

In his first game back on Monday night, Snider went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBI.

Snider has always possessed enough talent to succeed at the highest level, but it's been his youth and lack of sufficient playing time that's gotten in the way.

However, it now looks like he's ready to make a real splash in the MLB and fantasy leagues alike.

He's an immediate add in AL-only formats and deserves instant consideration for any mixed league.

With Lawire on his way, he, Snider, Jose Bautista, Adam Lind and Eric Thames could become one of the hottest-hitting teams in the league for the second half of the season.

1. Rich Harden, SP, Oakland Athletics

Well look who we have here.

It's Rich Harden, ladies and gentlemen.

I shouldn't have to tell you who Harden is and what's he's accomplished, so I won't.

I will, however, express my deepest concerns for fantasy owners thinking about adding him. What's there to think about?

It's Rich Harden.

He seems healthy, pitched six innings of two-run ball in his first start of the season, and is still one of the most productive strikeout pitchers in all of baseball.

So why not take a flier? I don't know, you're the one reading this and not picking him up as we speak.